Philippians 4:13 is a verse that is quoted a lot. It doesn’t mean that we can do all that we want but all Christ has for us to do. Paul learned his self sufficiency isn’t through himself it is in Christ.

Matthew 19:26 states that with man this is impossible but with God all things are possible. What is “this” and what all is possible with God. This verse is one that is taken out of context so we need to read it in context to see what the “this” is.

John 3:16 is one of those verses we usually have memorized but the context of it is important. To become redone requires us to become undone.

The message of the Resurrection is a powerful one. It is a reminder that even in the midst of what feels like hopeless situations there is always hope. We are called to spread that hope.

Our District Superintendent, Tim Carter, brings a Psalm Sunday message about the disciple Thomas.

In Romans 3 Paul is trying to explain the purpose of the law. He sets up this vision of a court room where God is judge and God is prosecution. When we stand and have no advocate by faith Jesus comes to our defense. It isn’t through our keeping of the law, it isn’t the works that we do but by faith alone.

The stoning of Stephen is one of those stories within the Biblical text we can spend a lot of time on. Stephen gives an amazing speech in front of the Sanhedrin and ultimately accuses them of not listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Even during the stoning Stephen never takes his eyes off of the path God has for him. He never takes his eyes off God. I pray we may be that way no matter what we are facing.

Jesus makes the declaration that He is the Good Shepherd in John 10. He said He would willingly give up His life for the sheep. He’s not doing this for His own gain or for power. He is a Good Shepherd that cares for His sheep. What ways do our lives reflect Jesus. Is there anything that gives us power we are called to give up in this season of Lent?

Paul tells us in Romans 12 to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, he tells us this is our true and proper worship. He then goes on to explain that love must be sincere. Being a living sacrifice must be something about the relationships we keep.

Sometimes in the most unexpected places God will use us. He will give us the words that we could never come up with on own. We should continue to pray for God's guidance in our life and that He will show us the doors He has opened for us to walk through. When we are obedient to that He is glorified.

Paul talks about the church being the body of Christ. We as a gathered body of believers are called to follow God’s guidance and to show the love of Christ to the world. The church has more to do with furthering the mission of Christ than how tall the church steeple is.

What are we called to do with all the information that we have gotten out of this series? Paul tells us we are given this ministry of reconciliation. What does that look like? Paul speaks about this in 2 Corinthians we are called to be reflections of Christ in the world giving our lives over.

God, our creator created us to be in relationship with Him. Sin entered into the world and God still desired a relationship with us. Jesus died as a sacrifice so that God could reside within us, so that we could be fully cleansed.

Sin entered into the world through the actions of Adam and Eve. There is a difference between original sin, the residual effects of the fall and personal sin a voluntary violation of a known law of God. Mildred Wynkoop defines sin as a perversion of love. We are called to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves anything beyond that is a perversion of what we are created for.

Why were we created? If we believe God created out of nothing why did God create? The rest of the Biblical text answers this question. We were created to worship the creator and come into relationship with God. God doesn’t force relationships. But what happens when we don’t live our life being a reflection of who God is? What if we worship other things instead of God? Join us next week for that answer.

Who is God? It is a question that many ask. God is described many different ways in the Old Testament. But the real question is does our life reflect what we believe about God?

Simeon didn’t lose focus. He even went to the temple at the prompting of the Holy Spirit. He didn’t give up hope. He knew God had promised and is faithful. We as Christians should be spreading hope and love because God is faithful even in times it looks hopeless to us.

God shows his love for us that even in the midst of our mess He brought us a path to peace and wholeness. We thank God through living our life showing that light and love through our actions, thoughts, and words.

Songs remind us of things in the past and we sing of hope for the future. Psalm 126 is a song that reminded them not only of how faithful God has been, but how faithful God is in the present, and how faithful God will continue to be.

God’s love is steadfast. He shows us through Scriptures, He shows us through stories of our friends and family, we all have stories of how God is faithful. One of the key points to the Christmas story is that God so loves us …